A concentrated A-level curriculum in either the arts or sciences significantly raises students' future earning power, while taking maths can harm money-making potential, new research has found.

A report has singled out specific combinations of subjects that lead to higher earnings. To top the pay scale, students should take physics, biology and chemistry together or history, French and art.

Yet a grouping of maths, history and English, or English, French and history yielded the lowest renumeration, according to the research by economics professor Geraint Johnes of Lancaster University management school.

"We do not as yet understand why some groups of subjects synergise more effectively than do others," wrote Professor Johnes. "We would conclude that a curriculum is considerably more than the sum of its parts."

The Institute of Physics is using these findings to encourage the study of what is considered a "nerdy" subject.

Dr Julia King, the chief executive of the Institute of Physics said: "Not only is physics rigorous analytical training but it also teaches approaches to solving problems in a genuinely creative way. This makes these students more desirable in industry and business. The message is clear: if you want to get ahead, get physics."

A recent survey of members of the Institute of Physics showed that the highest paid sectors were finance, telecommunications and the electrical industry.

Other results from Johnes's research - based on data collected from all people born in the UK in one week in 1958 - suggest that each O-level boosts earnings by about 5%, while a degree adds around 15% to income.